Arthur b



Patented Mar. 31,1891.

w H D R m R m AW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR I REID, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO IJARSEN FILSTRUP, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,296, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed July 1, I889. fien'al No. 316.252. (N model.)

I To (0Z5 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. REID, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Typeriting Machines, of which I declare the following, in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, to be a full, complete, and

accurate specification.

My invention relates to that class of typewriting machines in which the metallic types are placed near or at the extremity of metallic or other rods or arms and designed to be operated by a draw-bar and lever, so that the types may strike at a common point, and in which a lever is operated by a key, which said lever by means of a connecting draw-bar operates the type-arm, and in which certain .mechanical connect-ions exist, which are operlever upon which the key is attached at the same time depresses a bar beneath it. Attached to this bar beneath the lever is a rod connecting with certain other mechanism which differs somewhat in construction in the various machines, but which said mechanism by depression of the bar is placed in readiness to operate, and upon a release from the downward pressure of the lever the said mechanism moves the paper across the striking-point the necessary distance to receive the impression of the next succeeding letter, and where it is necessary to leave a space between words a separate lever and keyare used in most such machines,usually denominated a spacekey, which diifers from the type-keys in that it does not connect with the type-arm, and

when the key is pressed downward operates only upon the bar connected with the mechan ism which moves the paper and moving the paper when the key is released in exactly the same manner and by the same means as by the release of one of the lovers connected with a typearm.

The object of my invention is toso improve the action of type-writingmachines in which the aforesaid method of spacing now exists that a space-key may not be necessary therein to make the spaces between words when writing and to effect such improvement by the mechanism hereinafter described, or by such modification thereof as without departing from the substantial features of said mechanism may be necessary for its adaptation to the different forms of type-writing machines to whichitmay hereafter-be applied, and to enable a person operating a type-writing machine constructed with my improve.- ment herein described to accomplish the spacing between words by depressing a second time the key by which the type printing the final letter of the preceding word was actu ated, or, in other words, my improved action would enable the operator in writing the word and when striking the key by which the final letter (1 is printed to make the succeeding space after the word by a second depression of the same key with which the final letter d was imprinted without releasing the finger therefrom.

The utility of myinvention is to so improve such machines as I have hereinbefore genererally described, upon which spacing is accomplished only by use of a separate space-key, so as to simplify the motions necessary thereon to effect spaces between words, reduce to a minimum the movements of the hands to acquire that end, and thereby increase the rate of speed, which, next to legible writing, is the object most desired in typeavriting machines. anism hereinafter described.

In most type-writers (other than those constructed in conformity with my invention) the type-arm is operated by a draw-bar or pushbar directly connected therewith. In my invention 1 use adraw-bar and type-arm similar in structure to that heretofore used, but do This result I accomplish by the mechnot make a fixed connection between the two, but'insteadthereof operatethe-type arm by .means of a clutch,cam, or similar mechanism constructed with types affixed upon suspended arms and operated by draw-bars and, levers to strike the types-at a common pointthe paper is-held in a carriage-which .t-ravels'across the common point at which the types strike. The motive power which operates the papercarriage is usually a spring, and the mechanism is somewhat diifercnt in the various machines; but a point of mechanical construction common to all such machines-is that the drawbars and connecting type-arms are'operated by a series of parallel levers at or near the bottom of the machine, each of these par.- allel levers connecting with a draw-bar and typearmupon which a type is affixed, and running transversely beneath these parallel leversis-a universal bar, which-from itspositionmustbe depressed by the said parallel levers-or aswell'must be depressed by the depression of any one of thesaid. levers. Attached to this-bar is anarm, rod, or drawbar-which extends upward andis connected with the mechanism which operates the paper-carriage. Such mechanism, as lhave be,- fore stated, (litters in different makes of machines, butis-common in itssubstantial operationthus far, that the depression of the universal bar and its-subsequent elevation are necessary to operate the mechanism and cause thepaper-carriage to travel the proper space for one letter. Theelevation of the bar is usually attained by a'spring exerting an upward energy. It therefore appears that of the details of the spacing mechanism my improvement makes no part, and for that reason I have omitted all description of such details.

The substantial principleof my invention is that of connecting the lever which sets the. spacing mechanism in operation with a type-arm, or allowing the type-arm last actuated to. become and remain disconnectedfrom saidlever at the will of the operator for and during the time which lever is actuated to operate the spacing mechanism.

The structure and operation of my improvement maybe more fully shown and described by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, which is hereby made a part of this specification.

Intheaccompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1' is a vertical sectional elevation of a type-writing machine constructed with my improved action. Fig. 2 is a full-sized side elevatiOnofthe;draw-bar, clutch, and type-arm in my improved action with the frame work cut away to show the internal structure, the dotted lines in this figure snowmg the drawbar depressed, and type-arm raised and the clutch at the releasing-point. Fig. 3 is a fullsized front elevation of the clutch and typearm used in myimproved itctluu. 1 lg. isa side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the outer frame-work covering the same, and in which the dotted lines indicate the clutch dropped back nearly to its engaging-point.

Fig. 5 showsin side elevation a modified form of theconstruction of the draw-bar and typearm.

In the several figuresofsaid draw-ingsslike letters and'numeralsof' reference indicate like Dis one of the seriesof; barshwhiehv are,

severally attached to the saidparallellevers;

E is a suspended arm, atorvneanthelower extremity of which the printing-type: isg attached.

F is a printing-type attacheditothe arm E.

' H- is a universal bar extendingbenearhthe entire seriesof parallel operating-leveraand is connected bya rod 1 with the propelling mechanism of-the paper-carriage.

I. is a connectingrod. extending; upward from the outer extremityof loarH andlcon; necting. with. certain mechanism, the func tionof whichmechanism. is to operate-the paper-carriage upon themachine a certain distance each time that the key operatingthe lever G or any of itsparallelfellows isreleased.

K-is-a circular or oval band formingpartof the receptacle or basket into; which the type-armsv fall and against which} they-lie when not'in operation.

Lisa springgunder lever G, which throws the lever backv 1nt0 position after depression and there holds-it in-position.

M is apart'of the mechanism bytwhich-the paper-carriage is operated, and asthis mechanism differs somewhatin different-machines and formsno part of my invention other-than as it is connected thereto by the, rod'I; and universal bar H willnot be further described herein. i N representsthe position of thepaper-carriage and roller,which is the common striking-point of the several, types. 4 I

l is a loop extending upwardfrom theup per portion of thedraw-bar D, the upperend of which passes through an eye in the-here inafter-describedclutch. 2 is a forked clutch constructed of wire, bentpat its centerto form a double spirahthe two ends projecting therefrom nearly parallel,

hooked upward, the interior of the double spiral forming the eye through which the upper end of loop 1 passes.

3 is a barrel-pivot, through which clutch 2 passes at a point slightly below the spiral loops and forms the fulcrum from which a lever-action of said clutch is projected.

X is a slotted head affixed rigidly by a screw to the frame-work of the machine.

4 is a perpendicular eye passing through the slotted head X, in which the barrel-pivot 3 plays.

5 is a projection upon type-arm E, which may be engaged by the extreme ends of clutch 2.

6 is a pivot passing through slotted head X and upon which type-arm E is suspended.

The operation of my invention is as follows: To imprint a letter upon the paper, the key B is depressed by the finger. This depression draws draw-bar D downward. The loop at the upper end of the draw-baw D passes through the double spiral coil in wire clutch 2 and draws the upper end of the wire clutch downward until the pivot 3 strikes the bottom of the eye 4, which causes the lower bent ends of clutch to engage the projection 5 upon arm E. This raises the type-arm untilthe type F reaches the common striking-point. Clutch 2 travels around the curved lower surface of project-ion 5 and releases itself when the type reaches the striking-point, whereupon the arm falls back into the basket against the band K by force of gravity, and if the key-lever is then fully released and forced to its normal position by the upward energy of its spring the connecting-rod I is thereby driven upward and the clutch 2 connected thereto thereby operated upon its pivot and caused to regain its position in rear of type-arm E, in readiness to again clutch and operate said type-arm. The depression of the lever O, pressing upon the universal bar H, draws rod I downward, which, connecting with the mechanism M, prepares the mechanism by which the paper-carriage is operated to work, and upon releasing or partially releasing the pressurefrom the keyBthe lever O is thrown upward by spring L and the bar II thereby released, which enables the mechanism operating the paper-carriage to move the carriage one space.

Should it be desired to make a space after the letter last imprinted, the pressure of the finger is retained upon thekey B and the bar 0 allowed only to partially regain its normal position, the clutch 2 being allowed to fall back to a pointin front of projection 5, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, at which point it cannot clutch or operate the typearm E, the key B being again depressed, while the clutch is at this point, by which second depression of key B lever 0 again depresses bar H and operates the connecting mechanism, but does not operate the type-arm E, and when lever O is again released and allowed to take its normal position two spacings will then have been made after the imprintof the letter, and the number of spacings may be increased by repeated depression of the key, taking care that the key is not released so as to allow the clutch to recede to a position at which it may engage the projection upon the type-arm.

A substantial equivalent for the method of operating hereinbefore described, and which I desire to fully claim in this specification, is shown on Fig. 5. In the construction there shown I construct the type-arm E with a camshaped, extension extending backward from the point at which the arm is pivoted to the machine and construct the upper end of draw-bar I with an overhanging hook to engage the upper surface of the said cam, so that the depression of the draw-bar may operate upon upper surface of the cam, thereby raising type-arm to the desired point, as indicated by dotted lines, at which point the cam is released and cannot be again engaged until the draw-bar is again elevated to a point at which the hook may ride upon the cam I do not confine myself in my invention to the specific form of clutch or cam shown by which the type-arm may be engaged, or the specific location thereof, but reserve the right to vary the form or position thereof for the purpose of connecting and disconnecting the key-bar and type-arm or the application of any known and common mechanism for that purpose, the principle of my invention being the construction of the key-bar without a fixed connection to the type-arm and the introduc tion of intervening mechanism susceptible of causing said key-bar and type-arm to coact or not, according as the key bar or lever is raised to its normal point or not.

I claim as my invention and desire to se cure a patent for the following:

1. In a type-writing machine, a type-arm supplied with metal or other type at or near its lower extremity, said type-arm constructed with a camrshaped projection, as indicated by 5, in combination with an operating-clutch so constructed as to intermittently engage said cam-shaped projection, substantially in manner and form herein specified.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a key, as indicated by B, a lever, as indicated by O, a spring, as indicated by L, a drawbar, as indicated by D, a connectingloop, as indicated by 1, a forked clutch, as indicated by 2, and an independent type-arm, as indicated by E, all combined to act and cooperate substantially inthe manner and for the purpose herein specified.

3. In a type-writing machine, an independent type-arm constructed with a cam upon its shank, an operating-rod, and an intervening clutch, as specified.

4. In a typewriting machine, a disconnected type-arm having a projection 5, a drawbar and clutch, said clutch connected to the draw-bar by a loop, as indicated by 1, pass ing through an eye at upper end of clutch,

IOC

said clutch passing through and operating upon a barrel-pivot, as indicated by 3, and said pivot playing in a perpendicular eye, as indicated by 4, said clutch so constructed as to engage the projection (indicated by 5) upon type-arm when operated by depression of draw-bar, and as depression continues the forked extension of said clutch to travel around the lower curved surface of said projection as the type-arm raises, releasing its engagement upon said projection when the type attached to said arm reaches the striking or printing point and said clutch being so constructed and combined with the abovespecified parts that it may be allowed to recede nearly back to its original position Without again engaging the said type-arm, all substantially in manner, structure, and operation as above set forth, shown, and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing wit- W. KNOX HAYNES. 

